James Docherty

James Docherty

Born in Pollockshaws in 1872, James was playing at a decent level in Scotland when he became one of the many footballers who migrated south – in his case to Derby.

Today he would be regarded as a playmaker and was virtually ever present in the Rams midfield before an ambitious Town board tempted him to Luton in 1895.

He became a mainstay in the Luton side with his quick and clever distribution to the forwards but, along with several other top earners he was not offered a new contract at the end of the 1897-98 campaign and went off to Southern League new boys, Cowes, on the Isle of Wight.